Improvement in railroad spikes



THEODORE R. TIMBY.

improvement in Railroad Spikes.

No. 121,023. I Patented N0v. 14,1871.

Ai TEST INVENTOR.

THEODORE It. TIMBY, OF TARRYTOWN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN RAILROAD SPIKES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,023, dated November14, 1871.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, THEODORE R. TDWIBY, of Tarrytown, in the county ofWestchester and State of New York, have invented an Improvement inRailway Spikes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled inthe art to make and use the same.

My spike is square, or approximately so, in its transverse section; ismade with a projection at back, forming an angle at a point below theline to which it is intended to be driven into the wood, with anenlargement at front to take the wear which is caused by contact withthe flange or base of the rail, and also impart greater stiffness andstrength to the upper part of the spike. Instead of the barbs, which aremore commonly employed to give a secure hold in the wood, I form in thebody or lower part of the spike grooves, cavities, or indentations,sloping above, and with abrupt or rectangular shoulders at their lowerends; but the enlargement in front and the recesses or cavities I do notclaim as new in themselves.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved spike,looking from the front. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same,looking from the rear. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section thereof.

A is the head, and B the body of the spike. G O G are cavities formed attheir lower extremities, with abrupt shoulders c, which do not ob structthe driving of the spike, but when it is driven afford a very securehold on the grain of the wood. The end of the grain of the wood fits ntothese cavities, and, by emptying a number largement or cavity on theback of the neck of the spike, formed to give additional strength atthis point, and also to afford a more secure hold in the tie. The dottedline shows the depth to which the spike is driven into the tiethat is tosay, beyond the most prominent part of the rear projection E. In the actof driving the spike the wedge-shaped lower part of the projection E hasthe effect of pressing the upper part of the spike forward, causing thehead A to more tightly clamp the base of the rail. At the lower part ofthe projection E is a longitudinal groove or cavity, F, so formed thatwhen the spike is driven the ends of the fibers will be compressedtogether rather than apart, and tendency to split the timber will thusbe avoided. The projection E is especially valuable in permanentlyholding the top of the spike up to its work.

I claim as my invention-- The rearward projection E, formed of a doublebevel, with an obtuse angle below the point to which the spike isintended to be driven.

THEODORE It. TIMBY.

Witnesses:

OGTAVIUS KNIGHT, JAS. L. EwIN.

